Offside Chat Archives (2014-2021)

You’re doing alright, but I’m standing at 6'7". Finding anything that actually feels comfortable is going to be a struggle.
But like you said, I mostly stick to the highway, so it doesn't really make sense to go all out on a car.

Matthew Young35 said:Nowadays, Android offers pretty much everything iOS does.
Name one single thing iOS has that Android doesn't. Even when it comes to stability or speed... people love to compare an iPhone to some budget Android handset and claim the iPhone is faster.
When you're looking at comparable hardware, the iPhone isn't inherently faster. For opening any given app, my phone takes the exact same fraction of a second as an iPhone.
Sure, Samsung can be problematic; even on their flagship models, scrolling through settings can occasionally stutter. But that’s a failure of Samsung’s proprietary software, not Android itself.
On the flip side, the iPhone has its share of headaches. Try charging it out in the wild if you didn't bring a cable. Try transferring photos to a PC if the recipient refuses to install iTunes. Try navigating backward with one hand now that they’ve moved the back button to the very top of the screen. Can you find a meaningful difference in display quality between an iPhone 6 and an iPhone 8? Try putting a widget on your home screen. Try changing the desktop manager. Try remapping the buttons. Try finding a custom ROM. Try installing an adblocker. Or try switching phones and migrating all your data in thirty minutes without it being another iPhone.
And yet, it’s still more expensive than Android.
I could go on.
There are endless flaws with the iPhone and countless reasons why Android devices are superior.

Look, I use an Android phone—specifically a Xiaomi Mi8—and I'm extremely happy with it, especially regarding the price-to-performance ratio.

I'm speaking from the perspective of someone who has used a MacBook or an iMac for about ten years now. You realize what benefits their ecosystem brings, and leaving it isn't easy unless there's a massive reason to do so.

It’s not like I don't get it; I’ve always used Android devices. My messages, videos, photos, music, contacts—everything syncs perfectly. When I log into a new phone, everything is right there. The catch is that Google has only really streamlined this level of integration over the last couple of years, if at all.

For instance, I have a friend who's a DJ or a designer; he uses Apple because he needs specific design software that isn't available on Windows. Another friend uses a MacBook because he knows it won't crash in the middle of a set like Windows sometimes does.
Once people have been using those tools for so long, of course they'll grab an iPhone too—it's just compatible with the gear they already own.
As I mentioned, for our market here in the States, it's incredibly expensive. Only a very specific type of user can actually justify it.

Apple basically exploded in popularity because of the average user. The average person doesn't care and doesn't want to mess around with customizing things or tweaking settings like you can on Android. They just want access to everything from every device and call it a day. The only difference is that for your average American, dropping $700 on an iPhone isn't a big deal, especially if they snag a crazy deal on a new plan from one of the major carriers.

Does Apple know when they're overstepping? Of course. Charging $1,000 for a fucking monitor stand is ridiculous. And charging $5,000 or $6,000 for a single monitor when you can get a Dell for half that? Nobody's that crazy.

I understand the concept of vendor lock-in, but my point is simply that Apple isn't offering anything that isn't already available on Android.
Vendor lock-in is an entirely different conversation.

I have absolutely nothing against someone loving their iPhone. If they’re happy, I’m happy. It’s fine. I am merely stating that the claim that the iPhone is inherently better, faster, or more stable is quite simply untrue.
Take, for instance, back when the iPhone 4 era was peaking. When Android devices started pushing toward 4.7 or even 5-inch displays, how did the iPhone loyalists react? They scoffed. They claimed those screens were ridiculous and far too large for a handheld device.
Fast forward a few years, and the narrative shifted completely.
The same thing happened with widgets. At first, it was "unnecessary" or just plain "ugly." Then, suddenly, they introduced their own version of quasi-widgets.
NFC was deemed unnecessary, wasn't it? Then, three or four years later, it becomes a flagship feature on the latest iPhone.
And the status bar? A total disaster, apparently. Two iOS updates later, and there it is.
Remember the dual cameras on HTC phones? People laughed and asked who would ever need that. Two years later, every iPhone has them.
Wireless charging, fast charging... the list goes on.

The reality is that over the last two or three years, the iPhone has actually been lagging significantly behind its Android competition.
Even the sales data reflects this trend.

But, as I have maintained several times before, if people are satisfied with their iPhones, then good for them. I am not here to lobby anyone to switch.

Quote : Pierce34 nailed it. Honestly, you might as well switch to Windows if you aren't forced to stay...
Most people—myself included—just want their stuff to actually work when they buy it, without wasting endless hours messing around with pointless settings.
I need quick, easy access to my server from all my devices, everything synced up, and that peace of mind with iCloud so if my phone gets stolen or lost, I can grab my data instantly.
At this point, the differences between top-tier phones and OSs are just minor nuances since everyone just copies everyone else anyway—but iPhone was the pioneer in so many ways. If you've already gotten used to those intuitive gestures and simplicity, there's really no point in jumping ship for nothing.
Branko is exaggerating again, just like he does with everything else.

The iPhone wasn't really a pioneer in anything, except perhaps when it came to design aesthetics and its price tag.
Everything the iPhone ever marketed as a "breakthrough" feature actually existed on other phones long before it arrived.

Can you name even one single thing the iPhone possessed that hadn't already been implemented by a competitor?

To be perfectly honest, I can't think of a single one.

It’s just Samsung, just German engineering, and just PCs running Windows.

The holy trinity.

Look, I’ve owned an iPhone before. Personally, I think Apple is pretty mediocre as a brand, but man, the actual hardware is top-tier. You just have to swallow the fact that you're paying 20% more than anyone else in that same category. Like, compared to Samsung. And then with Samsung, you're paying 20% more than the Chinese brands, so you're basically a sucker either way 😁 but honestly, I wouldn't touch a Xiaomi even if someone handed it to me for free. 😳

Whatever, let people blow their cash however they want—on phones, on hookers, on whatever. You only live once.

Paul Sanders5 said:It’s just Samsung, just German engineering, and just PCs running Windows.

The holy trinity.

Look, I’ve owned an iPhone before. Personally, I think Apple is pretty mediocre as a brand, but man, the actual hardware is top-tier. You just have to swallow the fact that you're paying 20% more than anyone else in that same category. Like, compared to Samsung. And then with Samsung, you're paying 20% more than the Chinese brands, so you're basically a sucker either way 😁 but honestly, I wouldn't touch a Xiaomi even if someone handed it to me for free. 😳

Whatever, let people blow their cash however they want—on phones, on hookers, on whatever. You only live once.

And where does a betting shop fit into any of this?

Branko, what's your take on OnePlus?

I'm honestly at a loss here.
In the past, they seemingly offered the best value proposition if you were aiming for the high end. Of course, you had to completely write off any hope of meaningful support.
To be perfectly honest, I have no idea how much has actually changed since then.
What I do know is that they still produce devices that are comparable to flagships from much more powerful companies.

Peter Thompson4 said:It’s running like a dream, honestly, hasn't given me a single issue, it's been almost a year and a half now and I just finished a standard service and that's basically it.

I don't know, I was looking for something bigger because back when I had my old Ford Escort—that was my first real car, driving it at 18 years old—it was absolute torture, you know, with a height of 5'7" it was miserable because my knees were always jammed into my spine and those road trips used to absolutely kill me, so I knew I'd be putting in a lot of miles and really needed some actual comfort, which I definitely got.

And on top of all that, it gets better gas mileage than the junker I had before it; like, when I'm cruising out on the highway in the States, it pulls maybe 5 liters per 100km—and obviously, I don't go below 100 mph on the open stretches—whereas that total piece of crap I had before was constantly burning through fuel like crazy.😁.

Anyway, what did you end up going with?

Mercedes C-Class 220 CDI
It’s incredibly fuel-efficient for those long highway hauls, yet it still packs enough punch when you actually need to move...
Just like you said, it really is the perfect all-in-one solution.

Matthew Young35 said:I'm honestly at a loss here.
In the past, they seemingly offered the best value proposition if you were aiming for the high end. Of course, you had to completely write off any hope of meaningful support.
To be perfectly honest, I have no idea how much has actually changed since then.
What I do know is that they still produce devices that are comparable to flagships from much more powerful companies.

Yeah, from what I've seen, they don't really bother with a mid-range series anymore; they just push their flagships. Last year, some people were even calling the OnePlus 6 the best phone out there and all that. Plus, they hold their resale value pretty well.

Anyway, I'm looking at getting a new phone right now, and my decision will most likely land on the Mi 9. It's comparable to flagships from "premium" brands (I mean, comparable, not necessarily better, though maybe in certain areas!), and all of that for nearly half the price. I'm not a super demanding user, truth be told, and Xiaomi has proven to be reliable for me so far (any issues I had were entirely my own fault!).

I used to have a Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 for a little side job
The screen was absolutely terrible
Back then, the current Samsung model was light years ahead of that display

Has that situation actually improved since then?
I know Huawei makes top-tier stuff—my wife has the standard P30, and honestly, that phone is such a steal right now if it can still handle everything on these newer models

Jessica Gonzalez said:I honestly find it a bit surprising when people actually go out and buy their own phones. I haven't personally bought one since maybe 2010, because my company usually offers me a new model every couple of years if I want one. Even with entry-level jobs these days, they seem to hand out work phones with data plans included.

Man, they just keep throwing phones at me; I can't even defend myself!
At least they aren't taking away the ones I actually bought for myself!

Amanda Evans2 said:I used to have a Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 for a little side job
The screen was absolutely terrible
Back then, the current Samsung model was light years ahead of that display

Has that situation actually improved since then?
I know Huawei makes top-tier stuff—my wife has the standard P30, and honestly, that phone is such a steal right now if it can still handle everything on these newer models

The Mi Note 4 came out in 2017. How on earth could you think Samsung was in the S3 era? The S3 was released in 2012.

The P30 is currently a flagship from Huawei.

Either you've gotten your timelines mixed up, or you're just pulling my leg.

I'm in total agreement with Michelle Palmer6
In most companies, if you actually need a phone for your job, they hand you some absolute garbage...
But hey, I guess that's just life here in America

Amanda Evans2 said:I used to have a Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 for a little side job
The screen was absolutely terrible
Back then, the current Samsung model was light years ahead of that display

Has that situation actually improved since then?
I know Huawei makes top-tier stuff—my wife has the standard P30, and honestly, that phone is such a steal right now if it can still handle everything on these newer models

I have the Mi 8, and it’s a beast.
I picked it up for $800, and for that price, you get a Full HD AMOLED screen, 128GB of storage, a killer processor, and the battery holds up easily even with heavy use.

Xiaomi used to make cheap phones, but that's ancient history. There isn't even plastic anymore—it's glass on the front and glass on the back.

I thought I'd struggle to get used to their software skin, but it turns out it's all the same. It doesn't get in your way, the interface is lightweight, and the phone runs like clockwork.
Michelle Palmer6, highly recommended.

That’s a whole different conversation now
A Full HD AMOLED display compared to what I actually have
the Note 4
But I didn't pay much for it either. I picked up a new one through eBay for about $200 back then. Maybe even less, around $33
...

Matthew Young35 said:The iPhone wasn't really a pioneer in anything, except perhaps when it came to design aesthetics and its price tag.
Everything the iPhone ever marketed as a "breakthrough" feature actually existed on other phones long before it arrived.

Can you name even one single thing the iPhone possessed that hadn't already been implemented by a competitor?

To be perfectly honest, I can't think of a single one.

Didn't realize you were such a hater too. 🙄

Back in 2007—which wasn't exactly ages ago, so don't act like you forgot—when Jobs showed off his first iPhone 1 with that single button and touchscreen tech, where you basically did everything through gestures just like we do today... man, that changed the world. It was way more than just a revolution.

Basically, he's mocking them because the giants back then—looking at you, Nokia—were totally asleep at the wheel, thinking nothing was going to change, while it took the competition years just to catch up to Jobs' magic.

That year, 2007, was absolutely a Milestone for mobile tech.

And the first Samsung with Android didn't even show up until two years later. Two whole damn years.

Look, the 8 series is easily a step above the Note series. Right now, the Note 7 is sitting at around $200, and honestly, I think a phone like that is an absolute steal for the average user. It’s such a great value for the money!
People just throw money at stuff out of pure spite sometimes. I was talking to a guy at work recently—I asked him why on earth he’d drop all that cash on a laptop with an i7 processor if 90% of what he does is just browsing the web and binge-watching shows. His answer? "If I can afford it, why wouldn't I want the best?" I mean, you can't really argue with that logic, but I have a feeling he’d get the exact same level of satisfaction out of an i3. But hey, whatever makes him happy!

Larry Fox5 said:Didn't realize you were such a hater too. 🙄

Back in 2007—which wasn't exactly ages ago, so don't act like you forgot—when Jobs showed off his first iPhone 1 with that single button and touchscreen tech, where you basically did everything through gestures just like we do today... man, that changed the world. It was way more than just a revolution.

Basically, he's mocking them because the giants back then—looking at you, Nokia—were totally asleep at the wheel, thinking nothing was going to change, while it took the competition years just to catch up to Jobs' magic.

That year, 2007, was absolutely a Milestone for mobile tech.

And the first Samsung with Android didn't even show up until two years later. Two whole damn years.

Before Android, we had Symbian (back in 1998, nine years before the iPhone) and Windows Mobile (in 2000, seven years before the iPhone).
As for phones with a touchscreen? I won't even bother listing them; there were an absolute ton of them out there.

Take this, for instance:
The Ericsson R380 Smartphone is a GSMmobile phone developed by Ericsson Mobile Communications[1] It was introduced at CEBIT on 18 March 1999,[2] combining the functions of a mobile phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA).[3] Released in November 2000,[4] it was the first device marketed as a 'smartphone'.[5] In December 1999 the magazine Popular Science appointed the Ericsson R380 Smartphone to one of the most important advances in science and technology.[6] It was a groundbreaking device since it was as small and light as a normal mobile phone.[7]